FUSG reallocates funds for Outdoors Club, YAF

Franciscan University Student Government passed four bills on Oct.11, which included the reallocation of funds for the Outdoors Club and Young Americans for Freedom.

Fall Bill #26 called for $750 to be reallocated for the Outdoors Club’s Oct. 15 spelunking trip to Laurel Caverns. The money had been originally allocated to the club for a planned mountain biking trip that will no longer be taking place. Sen. Danny Bagley spoke in favor of the bill and it passed without issue.

The following Fall Bill #27 reallocated $350 to the Outdoors Club for their Oct. 29 zip lining trip. The reallocation came in part from the cancelled mountain biking trip in addition to funds made available from a cancelled paint-balling event.

President Samantha Martinez clarified that while Student Government was still spending money on the club’s events, it was not costing any more money than had been allocated. The bill then passed unanimously.

Fall Bill #28 requested that $89 be allocated to senior Abby Commarford for the purchase of digital rights to the movie “The Drop Box.” The showing of the film is part of Commarford’s senior Capstone Project. Despite the request not coming from a Student Life club, several senators supported the bill, citing Commarford’s repeated appeal to clubs for financial assistance and its overall worth to the university, and it passed without opposition.

The final piece of formal legislation introduced during the meeting was Fall Bill #30, which reallocated money set aside for Young Americans for Freedom’s trip to the Values Voter Summit. According to club representative Ben Idzik, a sponsorship from the Family Research Council covered the registration costs for the conference. The bill would allow for money that had been originally allocated for the registration to be used for other costs.

President Martinez commended the club for their organization of the trip and the bill passed without opposition. Sens. Jeremiah Poff and Mary Ann Cortese both abstained from the vote, as they planned on attending the conference with Young Americans for Freedom.

Fall Bill #25 was tabled after no club representative attended the meeting. President Martinez recommended that Fall Bill #29, which called for money to be allocated to the coordinators of the Fall Bash, be tabled, as the residence hall councils planning the event had already been allocated money for it.

Following the conclusion of formal business, David Schmiesing, Student Government’s faculty advisor, spoke briefly to the group on his expectations for the year. He affirmed his support for Student Government and its mission and said he looked forward to a successful year.

Student Government will next meet Oct. 18 at 11 a.m. in the St. Leo Room.